DETROIT – There are two chances for strong storms over the next two days, but one is not as robust as the other.
Wednesday's chance of storms comes during the late afternoon and evening hours, and the triggering mechanisms are an upper-level disturbance crossing the state, along with a smaller-scale circulation, a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV), moving eastward from northern Illinois.
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The computer models don’t seem to be handling this situation very well, so I have less confidence that we’ll get any storms. Scattered storms that do develop have the potential for some strong wind gusts, although I do not expect a widespread event at this point. Any storms we see should move out early Wednesday evening, and the balance of the night should be quiet and dry.
You might have noticed that humidity rushed back into the area Wednesday afternoon, which means we’ll have a warm night ahead with lows in the low 70s, (that’s 22 degrees Celsius for our Canadian neighbors). Winds will be light from the southwest.
Thursday should start out dry, but we have another chance of thunderstorms as a cold front approaches during the afternoon. Based on forecast upper air soundings that I’ve been looking at Wednesday afternoon, I think Thursday's severe weather threat is greater than Wednesday’s, with the best chance being in the southeastern part of our area, as you can see on the graphic above.
Thursday will be a warm and humid day, with highs in the mid-80s (29 degrees Celsius) and perhaps higher if we manage to get any meaningful sunshine. Winds will be southwest at 10 to 15 mph.
Thursday’s sunrise is at 6:52 a.m. and Thursday’s sunset is at 8:18 p.m.
Any storms still in the area late Thursday afternoon should end by 6 p.m. or so, leaving us dry Thursday night. Cooler, drier air moving in behind the cold front -- remember that the front itself is the front edge of that new air mass -- should allow lows to drop back into the mid-60s (18 degrees Celsius).
It will be partly cloudy on Friday -- a nice day to end the work week -- with highs in the low 80s (27 degrees Celsius), and comfortable humidity, too.
It will be mostly clear Friday night, with lows in the low to mid-60s (17 degrees Celsius).
It will be partly cloudy on Saturday, with highs in the low 80s (28 degrees Celsius).
Clouds will increase Saturday night, with a possible shower or thunderstorm developing. Lows will be in the upper 60s (20 degrees Celsius).
Sunday is a very challenging forecast. There is at least a chance for some thunderstorms, but I’m not expecting an all-day threat. I simply cannot develop any details yet, except to say that one normally reliable model suggests that the chance will be in the morning. Don’t take this to the bank yet. There is a lot to figure out about Sunday. Highs should be in the mid 80s (29-30 degrees Celsius).
Most of next week looks dry and pleasant, with highs in the low 80s (28 degrees Celsius), and overnight lows in the low 60s (16-17 degrees Celsius). We can’t ask for much more out of the last official full week of summer.